The Poor Mans Guide To Travel

We all know that travel isn’t the cheapest thing to do. But it isn’t the most expensive either! With low cost budget airlines in Europe such as Ryanair, and Spirit Airlines in America – there are plenty opportunities to go abroad for less.

Since Summer 2014 I have hopped on a plane to over 10 destinations all while being a student and without financial aid from anyone. Here are some of the things I did in order to be able to afford all these get-aways!

Less Alcohol = More Money

A night out with taxi’s, drinks, entry fees can cost anything from €40 upwards, and that is just on the basics! If flying to Rome in a month or two means sacrificing one or two nights out then so be it. If you don’t want to sacrifice these nights, pre-drink with your friends before you go out to avoid spending a fortune. Sometimes you gotta sacrifice a good time, to have a great time!

2. Compare, Compare, Compare

This one get’s kind of annoying I must admit, but before I buy anything I think about how much I really need it and compare to cost of that item to what else I could spend it on. Foundation for €45 equals half the cost of a flight somewhere and my mind is made up. This can be annoying because it holds me back from buying things that I don’t necessarily need but do really, really want. That’s sacrifice!

3. Skyscanner

I don’t know where I would be without skyscanner! Helping you find the cheapest option between all the different airlines available and the different times for that day. Personally I always like to go on to the website of the cheapest option showing up as once or twice it has been a small bit cheaper going direct – but at least I was pointed in the right direction!

4. Destination: Everywhere!

If you aren’t too picky about where you are headed or even when you can type in ‘everywhere’ to skyscanner and choose the cheapest month, or if you have a month you have in mind you can choose that entire month to view to cheapest days within that month. If you keep your options you’ll be surprised what opportunities you get.

5. Discard Your Personal Bubble

If you are willing to let people invade your personal bubble you will save a hell of a lot of money! During a roadtrip through America, my friends and I usually booked into a motel and shared either or or two double beds depending how many of us their were (between 4 and 6 of us travelling). I know this would probably be a last resort thing for some people, but me and my friends are all pretty close, and all very poor! So it worked out pretty well. (Also, the average motel bed in America is SO big)

I enjoy a relaxing, nice holiday as much as the next person but when I have very little money and a bad case of Wanderlust I’m willing to cut a few corners in order to make my trips happen. I can sip drinks out of coconuts from the balcony of my 5 star hotel in the Maldives when I’m old and rich (here’s for hoping!) but I’ll take roadtrips and motel rooms while I’m in my twenties if it means I get to see the world, plus all these rough trips will make the nicer ones that little bit sweeter… 🙂